1972 Albert Hammond – It Never Rains in Southern California (US:#5 UK:#51)
“It Never Rains in Southern California”, written by Albert Hammond and Mike Hazlewood, is a song first released by Hammond, a British born singer-songwriter, in 1972. Instrumental backing was provided by L.A. session musicians from the Wrecking Crew. The song is from his album, It Never Rains in Southern California. Hammond’s version peaked at number five on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 that year.
In the UK the song is perhaps the quintessential example of a turntable hit: a song which, although very frequently played and requested on radio, never makes it into the charts. Through the 1970s, the record was re-issued at least five times by various labels but never charted, despite yet more airplay, and is still frequently to be heard on UK radio.
The song concerns the struggles of an actor who moves out to California to pursue a career in Hollywood but does not have any success and deteriorates in the process. In the chorus, Hammond sings: “It never rains in California, but girl don’t they warn ya. It pours, man, it pours.”
Album
It Never Rains in Southern California is an album by Albert Hammond released by Mums Records. The album landed on the Billboard 200 chart, reaching #77. The single title song hit #2 on the Adult Contemporary chart, #5 on the Billboard Hot 100, and #51 on the UK Singles Chart in 1972. The single “Down […]
Musicians
Musicians in the tags above are confirmed. For more information click on the album.
Produced By
Albert Hammond
Don Altfeld
Songwiters
Albert Hammond
Mike Hazlewood
Charts
US:#5
UK:#51